Psychology Schools in Kentucky
The following guide to psychology schools in Kentucky is designed to provide you with important information on the undergraduate and graduate psychology programs in the state. Kentucky’s many colleges and universities offer an eclectic variety of undergraduate and graduate psychology programs with concentrations in industrial and organizational psychology, school psychology, and clinical psychology. If flexibility and convenience are important, consider earning a psychology degree either partially or fully online from one of the many universities that offer such programs.
Quick Facts
- There are 26 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Kentucky.1
- 2 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 25 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 14 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- 2 schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.4
- No schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Psychology Programs in Kentucky
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Louisville (#73)
*Institution-wide ranking.
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- Brescia University (#23)
- Eastern Kentucky University (#16)
Keep reading to learn more about the psychology programs offered at some of Kentucky’s leading universities.
Schools in Kentucky with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Kentucky
Psychology majors at the University of Kentucky can pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 23 credits in psychology to fulfill degree requirements. Of those credits, psychology majors must choose a capstone course from nearly a dozen options, including neuroscience, child psychopathology, and psychological testing. Students may also complete an internship or a senior thesis. Eligible psychology majors may want to join Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students. Additionally, the Society for the Promotion of Undergraduate Research is open to all psychology students. Psychology students may also be eligible for departmental and outside scholarships to help defray educational costs.
Spalding University
Spalding University offers two options for students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology: a traditional four-year program or an accelerated program. The accelerated format allows students to complete degree requirements on weekends and in the evenings with classes spanning six weeks each. The traditional program generally takes four years to complete and is identical to the accelerated program, preparing students to continue on to graduate studies. Faculty at Spalding University generally hold doctorates in the area in which they teach. Eligible psychology majors may join Psi Chi or choose from a number of social and services clubs in addition to on-campus fraternities and sororities.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University offers a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Science (MS) in General Psychology, and a Master of Science (MS) in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Each master’s program spans two years, with the clinical psychology program requiring 60 credits to fulfill graduation requirements. Graduates with an MS in clinical psychology will be eligible to sit for the Licensed Psychological Associate exam in the state of Kentucky. The full-time MA in general psychology prepares graduates to pursue doctoral studies and features such courses as social psychology, developmental psychology, and cognitive psychology. The MS in industrial and organizational psychology requires 60 credits and offers a thesis track and a non-thesis track.
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology allows students to concentrate in clinical psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, or psychological science. The two-year clinical psychology program focuses on both research and practical experience and features such courses as individual differences and human diversity, psychopathology, and scientific and professional ethics and standards in psychology. The two-year industrial and organizational psychology program, in which graduate students are encouraged to complete an internship in the summer between the first and second year of the program, requires students to complete a thesis. The psychological science concentration spans two years and is essentially a mentorship program that prepares graduate students for doctoral study.
Online Psychology Programs
Brescia University
Brescia University offers a fully online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology that prepares graduates for a broad range of careers as well as for advanced study at the master’s or doctoral level. Students gain a fundamental understanding of human behavior and development while advancing their communication and research skills. An optional emphasis in Addictions Counseling is available for students planning careers in counseling and human services. Courses in the program are developed with working adult students in mind, providing flexibility for those with outside commitments. Classes in the major include Developmental Psychology; Personality Theory; History and Systems of Psychology; and Research Methods. A total of 128 credit hours are required to earn the degree. Brescia also offers a 45-credit hour Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology that can be completed online.
Kentucky Wesleyan University
Kentucky Wesleyan University is home to an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program that focuses on developing an understanding of human behavior and its aspects, including perception, emotion, motivation, and development, as well as psychological disorders. Core courses in the program include Personality Theories; Statistics in Behavioral Sciences; Cognitive Psychology; and Senior Seminar in Psychology. Students also take 15 credit hours of electives in addition to the psychology core. At least 120 credit hours are required to graduate with the degree. New terms begin every two months thanks to the flexible eight-week course format for most courses offered online, offering additional flexibility to working students. Graduates of the program are well prepared to apply to graduate school.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Kentucky
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Kentucky on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2016.6 Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.6
| School | BA/BS | Grad Prog. | Online Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbury Theological Seminary | No | Yes | No | CACREP | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Asbury University | Yes | No | No | — | 62% | — | — | — | — | $22,646 |
| Bellarmine University | Yes | No | No | — | 67% | — | — | — | — | $23,607 |
| Berea College | Yes | No | No | — | 63% | — | — | — | — | $1,196 |
| Brescia University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 35% | — | — | — | — | $13,413 |
| Campbellsville University | Yes | No | No | — | 40% | — | — | — | — | $17,843 |
| Centre College | Yes | No | No | — | 81% | — | — | — | — | $25,051 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, CACREP, NASP | 47% | — | — | — | — | $14,273 |
| Georgetown College | Yes | No | No | — | 58% | — | — | — | — | $19,852 |
| Kentucky Christian University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 34% | — | — | — | — | $18,839 |
| Kentucky State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | — | 18% | — | — | — | — | $10,298 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 42% | — | — | — | — | $26,422 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 37% | — | — | — | — | $15,405 |
| Midway University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 37% | — | — | — | — | $22,791 |
| Morehead State University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 45% | — | — | — | — | $12,528 |
| Murray State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 55% | — | — | — | — | $12,270 |
| Northern Kentucky University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 42% | — | — | — | — | $9,753 |
| Spalding University | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 39% | 60% | 20 | — | — | $23,552 |
| Thomas More College | Yes | No | No | — | 48% | — | — | — | — | $18,517 |
| Transylvania University | Yes | No | No | — | 75% | — | — | — | — | $26,125 |
| Union College | Yes | Yes | No | — | 27% | — | — | — | — | $17,445 |
| University of Kentucky (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 66% | 78% | 9 | — | 75^ | $19,762 |
| University of Kentucky (School Phd) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 66% | 60% | 5 | — | 75^ | $19,762 |
| University of Kentucky (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 66% | 100% | 8 | — | 75^ | $19,762 |
| University of Louisville (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, CACREP | 57% | 100% | 5 | — | 98^ | $17,098 |
| University of Louisville (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, CACREP | 57% | 88% | 8 | — | 98^ | $17,098 |
| University of Pikeville | Yes | No | No | — | 29% | — | — | — | — | $18,015 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 33% | — | — | — | — | $17,588 |
| Western Kentucky University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 45% | — | — | — | — | $12,486 |
Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion.1
Schools with Psychology Degree Programs in Kentucky
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Berea College
101 Chestnut St
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 985-3000
https://www.berea.edu/
Student Review: “The Berea College experience, was pretty much that, an experience. Although the coursework was sometimes challenging it never felt like any assignment was insurmountable. The professors in the psychology program varied wildly in personality and background and allowed for a well-rounded view of the field. The professor that I ended up going to most often for help with classwork refused to behave like a man his age, always wore sandals, and was never without a cup or two of coffee. My peers and I began to suspect that Wayne Messer never slept. Opposite him was a very stern professor specializing in the statistical analysis portion of the field, whose name I cannot seem to remember, but whose no-nonsense take on statistics was beneficial to the coursework. I loved how approachable nearly all the professors at Berea seemed, due to small class size and generally friendly demeanor. If Berea could improve any one aspect, it honestly wouldn’t have anything to do with my field in particular, but with better support for student-led fundraisers like HvZ.” – Student at Berea College
Morehead State University
150 University Blvd
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 783-2221
https://www.moreheadstate.edu/
Student Review: “When I initially joined the psychology department as an incoming freshman at Morehead, I was rather anxious about my career choice. I had only taken child psychology courses in high school as an education major, so I wasn’t sure if I’d like the onslaught of psychological material I’d received; however, I was welcomed warmly from the moment I created my schedule. I was very quickly introduced to research methods and a plethora of courses I could take (quite liberally). The thorough introduction to research quickly made up my mind – this was the career for me. My faculty mentor was welcoming and open-minded to my unconventional research interests and I have excelled in the program since. Each course offers a new perspective on psychological principles and even those unrelated to my field of interest have offered meaningful career, research, AND personal knowledge. The psychology program at Morehead State has truly fulfilled me. Unlike many schools, experimental programs are the focus as much as clinical. Graduate options are also available, as well as a wide array of publishing opportunities, conferences, fellowships, and professional organizations (all of which I am proud to take part in!)” – Student at Morehead State University
Northern Kentucky University
100 Louie B Nunn Dr
Highland Heights, KY 41099
(859) 572-5220
http://www.nku.edu/
Student Review: “The best thing I can say about the psychology program at NKU is that the instructors are always very passionate about the subjects they are teaching. The course offerings sometimes felt a little limiting, both in terms of content and availability, but this degree covers all the basics. The program tries to ensure that you take classes from different sub-fields of psychology. for instance, I took a course in animal learning, a course in lifespan development, a course in human sexuality, a handful of courses in counseling, and a course in biopsychology, to name a few. The courses don’t get very specialized, which is frustrating if you already know what you’d like to do with your degree but the university doesn’t offer very many relevant courses. However, it provides you with a good sampling of subjects if you’re not really sure what you’d like to do after you finish your undergraduate degree. All in all, it’s a solid, basic psychology program.” – Student at Northern Kentucky University
Thomas More College
333 Thomas More Pkwy
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
(859) 341-5800
https://www.thomasmore.edu/
Student Review: “The Thomas More College psychology program is rigorous, stimulating, and enjoyable. It certainly prepares you for graduate study in any part of the field of psychology. The classes are small and taught by highly engaged and engaging professors. The department is a tight-knit community that takes a vested interest in the success of its students and provides each one with one-on-one support.” – Student at Thomas More College
Transylvania University
300 N Broadway
Lexington, KY 40508
(859) 233-8300
https://www.transy.edu/
Student Review: “Transylvania University’s psychology program is a very solid foundation for the world of psychological research and clinical psychology, as well as an informative background for many other aspects of advanced study. The program track was very flexible – after taking General Psychology, many courses were open to students immediately, allowing for customization of the psychology degree based on interest and projected career path. For instance, my study focused largely on abnormal psychology and human development, while some of my peers’ studies focused on clinical methods or research methods. My professors were extremely qualified and knowledgeable. Many were legitimate experts in their fields, all held at least one terminal degree, and several of them were current practitioners, including one professor who regularly met with psychological patients out of his university office. Despite this loftiness, all the professors were approachable and flexible, working with me when I needed help, time, or guidance.” – Student at Transylvania University
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Table
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2017.
4. PsychologyDegree411 Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/subject-ranking/psychology
6. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2017_Doctoral_Report.pdf
7. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
8. US News & World Report Best Graduate Psychology Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings